Sectional airbag



1,676,817 R. s. BURDETTE SECTIONAL AIRBAG July 10, 1928.

Original Filed April 10, 1925 INVENTOR Richard Sfiurdefla,

vATTORNEY Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED 'ST RICHARD S. BURDETTE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE db RUB- BER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SECTIONAL AIRBAG.

Original anolicat ion flled April 10, 1925, Serial No. 22,205 Divided and this application filed January 19,

I 1927.. Serial N0. 162,049.

amount of light-weight material so distrib-- uted that it is adapted to withstand relatively great internal pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible sectional core in which undesirable effects of unbalanced internal stresses caused by an arcuate contour of the core are obviated.

Another object of my invention consists.

in providing a sectional vulcanizing core consisting of a metallic member and a re-. placeable inflatable rubber and fabric portion. I

My invention relates particularly to pneumatic cores of the sectional so-called airbag type. In the repair of pneumatic casings, it is necessary to vulcanize: the uncured rubber used in the repair in order to give to the repaired portion a toughness and strength comparable with the other portions of the casing. In vulcanizing a tire casing the defective portions areremoved, raw rubber or rubber and fabric is inserted in place thereof, and the repaired casing is placed within a metallic mold having a re-- cess which conforms to the contour of the outer surface of the casing. -Within the casing is inserted an inflatable pneumatic core or airbag which is of substantially the same diameter as'the'inner periphery of the casing and of slightly greater length than the repaired-portion of the casing. The mold in which the casing is placed is heated and the airbag is inflated so as to hold the repaired portion of the casing in contact with the mold under the desired pressure. .If desired, the airbag-may be heated by inflating it with either steamor hot water.

. Heretofore it has been common practice to construct airbags of this character solely of rubberized fabric. One objection to this type of airbag has been that, although the walls ofthe bag are. reinforced by contact with the inner surface ,of the .tire casing and are therefore not subjected to any injurious stresses, nevertheless, the end portions therel i of are totally unsupported and are subjected to the same pressure as are the walls of the bag. As the pressure necessary properly to cure a rep-aired casing is reasonably high. the total force development in an airbag of large diameter, such as a truck tire or balloon tire bag, is very great. In order to prevent injury to the bag, it is necessary to reinforce the ends thereof by the addition of layers of reinforcing material, Also, in order to prov1de proper anchorage for these reinforcing ends, it is necessary to make the side walls of heavier material than would otherwise be necessary. Another objection to this type of bag is that, owing to the difference in the length of the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the bag, and the fact that the ends thereof are disposed at a considerable angle to each other, certain unbalanced stresses are produced therein which tend to deform the bag. A. still further objection to this type of bag is that,

as the bag is unitary, when any one portion of the-bag fails, the entire bag is rendered useless. A

By my invention. I have obviated these objections by providing a centrally disposed supporting member which substantially practically avoids the undesirable eflects of 'theru'nbalanced forces developed in the bag,

which reduces the stressexerted upon the end of the bag and assumes a portion-of the reduced stress, and which permits of the replacement'of those portions of the bag which may fail under ordinary working conditions.

For a more thorough description of my invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, of which;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of an inflatable vulcanizing device constraicted in accordance with my invention; an

Fig. 2 is an'elevational view of one end of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

A practicalembodiment ofmy invention illustrated i the'drawings includes a cylindrical. arcua e flexible member 10 provided with metallic ends 11 of cup-shape, which are mounted upon opposite ends of a metallic bracing member 12, disposed centrally within the memberlO. These elements constitute what I term a -v'ulcanizing core. As illustrated, the cup-shape ends 11, as well as the flexible member 10, are pear-shape in cross-section, although the cross-sectional contour may be varied to assume any desired shape, such as circular or elliptical. The member 10- is of such length with respect to the member 12 that at its end portions 13,

for the admission and escape of a suitable inflatingand heating medium. I

The member 11 is provided with a supporting member 17 which serves to engage the mold intermediate-the tire beads so as to prevent the exertion of undue stresses upon the beads of the tire casing or upon the inner surface of the airbag by reason of the unbalanced forces caused by the arcuate contour of the bag. In this embodiment of my invention, it will be observed that the greater portion of the. end thrust of the bag is assumed by the metal end members 11 and the bracing member 12 so that only a small percentage of the total thrust is as- 1sjumed by the end portions 13' of the flexible a5 ag. I 7

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel type of flexible core in which the strains are so reduced and distributed that relatively high pressures may be employed without detriment to a bag composed of a relatively small quantity -:0f relatively light-weight fabric. It will also be apparent that by the provision made for the elimination of the unbalanced forces, the life of the bag will be materially prolonged and the possibility of injury to,

casings being cured by the airbag will be ellminated. It will be further apparent that the life ofa bag of the character described- Willbe greater than that of the old type of bag owing to the fact that the thinner flexible Walls may be subjected to flexing ith less injury thereto than-is incident to the exing of a bag having thicker walls. Furthermore, when the flexiblemember has become impaired, it is re laced, the life .of the metallic portions 0 the. bag being indefinite and materially greater than that of the rub-.

ber 'ortions.

though I have illustrated but one form which my invention may assume and have described in detail but a single application- I thereof, it will be "apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but that various minor modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: i

1. A fluid container adapted to be supported within a tire casing com rising an elongate flexible member of su stantiallypear-shape cross-section, and a rigid member extending through said flexible member and connected thereto adjacent each end of the flexible member, the latter formed with folded end portions supported against the contiguous end portions of the rigid member.

2'. A fluid-container adapted to be supported Within a tire casing com rising an elongate flexible member of su stantially pear-shape cross-section, a rigid member extending through said flexible member and connected adjacent each of its ends to the end of the flexible-member, the latter being formed with folded end portions supported rigid member and a block secured to the rigid member for relieving pressure between the flexible member and the tire casing beads.

against the contiguous end portions of the 3. A fluid container adapted to 'be supported within a tire casing comprising a flexible member and an elongate rigid mem-- ber together forming a closed container, the

flexible member including folded portions supported against the ends of the rigid member, and inlet and outlet connections secured to the rigid member for conveying fluid under pressure.

4. A vulcanizin gcore adapted to be supported within a tire casing comprising a flexible member and a rigid member. to-

gether forming a closed container, the rigid member comprising an elongate metal member provided at each; end with a metallic portions adapted to be flexed along said peripheral surface, and connections in the rigid member adapted to convey fluid under pressure. 1 I I V 5.1A vulcanizing core adapted to be supported within a tire casing comprisinga flexible member and a rigid member together forming an elongate closed container, and

'.member of substantially pear-shape crossf section, the flexible member enclosing the rigid member and provided with folded end abutment meansadjacent each end of the container for relieving pressure of the flexible member against the tire beads. 6. A vulcanizing core adapted to be supported within a tire casing comprising a flexible member and a rigid member together forming an elongate closed container, and an abutment at each end'of the container secured to the rigid member for relieving unbalanced radial forces tending to press v the core against the beads of the tire casing;

7.- Avvulcanizing core adapted to be 'disposed within a pneumatic tire casing comrisin an outer'se mental arcuate ex ansible member of tubular formation having folded end portions, and a rigid support for the expansible member, the folded end portions being disposed circumferentially of the rigid support and movable with respect thereto.

8.,A vulcanizing core comprising a flexibleelongate arcuate container and a metal end member so connected thereto, that an annular fold of the container at least partially surrounds the end member.

9. A fluid container adapted to be supported within a tire casing comprising an elongate flexible member and arigid member extending through the flexible member and connected thereto adjacent each end of the flexible member, the latter being formed ,10. A fluid container adapted to be supported within a. tire casing, comprising an elongate flexible member, a rigid member extending through the flexible member and connected adjacent each of its ends to the end of the flexiblemember, the latter bein formed with folded end portions supporte against the contiguous end portions of the rigid -member and means secured to the rigid member for relieving pressure between the flexible member and the tire casing beads.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

RICHARD S. BURDETTE. 

